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Canes Can't Stop Bruins

Wednesday, 08.06.2014 / 4:47 AM

Tracking the Storm Analysis

The beginning and conclusion to tonight’s game were not ideal for the Carolina Hurricanes, as they dropped a 5-3 decision to the Boston Bruins, who improved to 4-0-1, their first five-game point streak to open the season since 1990-91. Just over six minutes into the game, the Bruins had a two-goal lead, and they scored the game-winning goal with just 1:50 to play. Everything else in between was much better, as the Canes battled back to tie the game 3-3. “We did some good things, but obviously not enough to try and salvage at least a point in this game,” Eric Staal said.

As it tends to do, special teams played a big role in the game, especially early. Boston’s first goal came shorthanded, as the Hurricanes were scrambling in their own zone. Zdeno Chara found Brad Marchand wide open, despite being down a man, and he roofed the one-timer. Three minutes later on their first power play of the game, Chara scored on a seeing-eye wrist shot from the point. “They challenged us and pushed us, and we weren’t able to respond in the first,” head coach Kirk Muller said.

Boston’s penalty killing remains at 100 percent (23-for-23), as they killed off all six of the Hurricanes’ man-advantage chances. Eric Staal said the Bruins’ PK was aggressive, in their face and quick. “You’ve got to give credit where credit is due: their PK is real good. They’re aggressive,” Muller said. “But, that’s no excuse. We’ve got to get the job done and get production on the power play.”

Tim Gleason provided the spark the Hurricanes were searching for early, as he went toe-to-toe with Milan Lucic. Just over three minutes later, Jamie McBain brought Carolina within a goal, tapping in a tape-to-tape feed from Eric Staal. “He brings that physical edge,” Staal said. “I think he felt at that point, down by two, he’d try and create some energy and he did.”

Defensive zone coverage was a mixed bag, at best, and it’s something that has plagued the team in this young season. A number of times, the Canes found themselves pinned in and scrambling, leaving players open for easy scoring opportunities. On the game-winning goal, Dougie Hamilton found David Krejci in prime scoring position while a number of Hurricanes players were caught out of position. “It was a bit of a scramble play,” Jay Harrison said. “Unfortunate way to lose one after putting in quite a good effort.”

It’s well known that Alexander Semin has an incredible shot. Vastly underrated is his playmaking ability. He was able to find Eric Staal streaking into the slot with a slick pass on the goal that tied the game at three. Those two are starting to develop a real chemistry.

The Hurricanes big players continue to produce. Eric Staal leads the team with six points (4g, 2a). Jordan Staal leads the team with five assists, and Jeff Skinner leads the team with five goals; both players extended their assists and goal streaks to four games.

Carolina now enters into a bit of a schedule anomaly, especially in this condensed season, which has them idle for the next three days before facing Ottawa on Friday.

Recap (NHL.com)

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton set up David Krejci on the left-side doorstep to break a 3-3 tie with 1:50 remaining in the third period, helping the Bruins earn a 5-3 win against the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night at PNC Arena.

Tyler Seguin added an empty-net goal for the Bruins, who improved to 4-0-1 on the season. The Hurricanes fell to 2-3-0.

The Hurricanes had erased a 3-1 deficit with two quick goals at the end of the second period to tie the game.

Zdeno Chara had a goal and two assists for the Bruins, while Eric Staal and Alexander Semin each had two points for the Hurricanes.

The first half of the second period was marked by three Boston penalties -- including 3:44 of consecutive shorthanded time for the Bruins. After killing all three, forward Nathan Horton extended Boston's lead to 3-1. He circled through center ice, cleared two defenders along the right-wing boards and skated in alone on Cam Ward for his second the season.

But the Hurricanes erased Boston's two-goal lead late in the period, when Jeff Skinner and Staal scored 50 seconds apart. Skinner picked up a loose puck along the boards and flipped it over Anton Khudobin's left shoulder, extending his goal-scoring streak to four games. Staal tied the game when Semin collected Chris Kelly's turnover and sent it to the Hurricanes’ captain alone in the slot.

The Bruins got on the board quickly with a short-handed goal in a wide-open first period. Just over three minutes in, Brad Marchand blasted a shot past Ward from low in the right circle for his third of the season. Chara set up Marchand with a long diagonal pass from the left point.

Chara took matters into his own hands three minutes later, sending a long wrister to the top shelf, using Milan Lucic as a screen to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.

Looking to provide a lift for the flat-footed Hurricanes, defenseman Tim Gleason squared off with Lucic, as both earned fighting majors.

The Hurricanes began generating offensive chances in the latter part of the period, cashing in on defenseman Jamie McBain's redirect from the slot for his first of the season. Staal made the last of four straight up-ice passes leading to the scoring play. The goal marked the first time Carolina has scored in the first period this season.

The Bruins killed all seven of their penalties, extending their season-long streak to 24.

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